Paralegal

Marketable Skills

With the Associate of Applied Science for Paralegal, the student will be able to demonstrate the following marketable skills:

• Reading Comprehension – Reading work-related information
• Active Listening – Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
• Speaking – Talking to others
• Writing – Writing things for co-workers or customers
• Critical Thinking – Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem

Career Opportunities

As with most areas, Paralegal careers begin with entry-level positions that lead to career advancement as your experience and expertise grow. Your services will be vital in civil litigation firms, family law offices, the district attorney’s office, criminal defense firms or land offices. There are a number of in-demand career possibilities including:

• Legal Research Assistants
• Business Developments
• Court Coordinators
• Mediators
• Legal Secretaries
• Brokerage Clerks
• Billing, Cost and Rate Clerks - District and County Clerk’s Office
• Executive Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
• Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks
• Eligibility Interviewers for Government Programs
• Title Examiners, Abstractors, and Searchers
• Tax Examiners, Collectors, and Revenue Agents
• Municipal Clerks
• Tax Preparers

Demand

According to the American Bar Association, there are more than 1.1 million attorneys currently practicing law in the United States and about 40,000 new graduates emerging from the nation’s law schools every year. Whether they work in small practices, large firms, corporations, government or other entities, virtually every lawyer relies on the help of paralegals. At Midland College, you can become one of these highly valued professionals.

As a paralegal graduate, you will qualify to work under the supervision of a lawyer. Your career options are not limited to a law office, but also include corporate legal departments, law schools, public and private agencies, and local, state, and the federal government.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) says the employment of paralegals and legal assistants is projected to grow 15% from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. Formally trained paralegals with strong computer and database management skills have the best job prospects.

Permian Basin Paralegal Association’s Andree Rosen Scholarship

$500 offered each Fall and Spring semester to one student maintaining a 3.0 GPA who is currently enrolled in the Paralegal program.

Midland Legal Secretaries Scholarship

$300 per semester for any second year Legal Assistant AAS degree seeker with a GPA of 3.0 or better who carries 9+ credit hours.

Contact Program Chair for details, and create an AcademicWorks account to be considered.

Apply for General Scholarships through the Financial Aid Portal

FAFSA Requirement

The student's FAFSA application must be on file with MC Financial Aid to access the Financial Aid Portal and apply for scholarships.

If the student's FAFSA application is not on file with MC Financial Aid, the student needs to complete the FAFSA application, and once processed, will have access to complete the general scholarship application.

FAFSA Information

How to Apply

1. Complete current year FAFSA or TASFA applications
2. Register for 6+ credit hours towards a degree or certification
3. Minimum GPA of 2.50 or higher each semester

For additional scholarship details and deadlines, visit the General Scholarships page.

General Scholarships